My Top 10 Fantasy Football Rookies Right Now (June 2026)
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support The Fantasy Football Almanac and allow us to continue producing detailed fantasy football strategy content, rankings, projections, and draft tools throughout the season.
My Top 10 Fantasy Football Rookies Right Now (June 2026)
I know there are a lot of dynasty fantasy football players out there. Though the Fantasy Football Almanac isn’t positioned solely around dynasty league play, the genesis of the publication came from my love (okay, obsession) with finding an edge in my primary dynasty league.
You’ll see me say this a number of times, but I view the NFL offseason in a few phases:
Phase 1: The Ridiculous Phase
This happens between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft. This is when you see dumb articles like, “The (…name your team…) should trade their 1st- and 3rd-round picks for Josh Allen.” Uh… yeah. No kidding. What amazing analysis from a fan blog, right?
From my point of view, there’s not much to be done during February through late April other than track free-agent signings and adjust offensive system philosophies. Rosters don’t really take shape until after the draft. Case in point: I didn’t expect the Cardinals to wind up with Jeremiyah Love, but that had a major impact on my rankings.
Phase 2: Early Hype
This is what we’re in right now. The NFL Draft happened, and this is when you start to read articles about how a sixth-round running back is a sleeper even though he has a young, healthy All-Pro ahead of him on the depth chart. You get some weird takes here.
This, in my opinion, is where the Almanac starts to separate the wheat from the chaff. I’d say my rankings are 80–90% calibrated even when the first version of the Almanac hits shelves in early June.
Phase 3: Education and Calibration
This is the all-important phase between late July and early September. This is when I really dig in on my potential sleepers to see how they are progressing. And when I’m watching those painfully boring preseason games, I’m looking for diamonds in the rough — those guys who look electric in the third and fourth quarters. I recall Jordan Mason catching my radar years ago (though, to be fair, he didn’t break out until multiple seasons later).
Anyway, since we’re in Phase 2, I wanted to get you a list of my favorite 10 rookies today. This list will, of course, fluctuate over time. But if I had a rookie draft today, this would be my ranking. Then I’ll talk a little about each player below the rankings.
Before I dig into the rankings, though, let me shamelessly plug the 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac. I think it’s awesome. But if you’ve never read any of my books, you can always download a free PDF copy of the 2023 version.
Free Sample of The Fantasy Football Almanac – Including Updates (2023)
If you haven’t read the Almanac, I provide free updates for any reader that signs up. If you’re curious about what is included in the book and in the updates, I have made the entire 2023 series available (both the book and the 5 updates that were included). All you have to do is fill out your name and email address below. You will then receive an email and once you confirm that subscription, your browser will automatically download the zip version:
Table of Contents
Looking For My Full Rankings?
The rankings below represent only a small sample of the complete rankings available in the Fantasy Football Almanac.
The 2026 Almanac includes:
- Detailed player analysis
- Tier-based draft strategy
- Coaching analysis
- Sleepers, busts, and breakouts
- Dynasty rankings
- IDP rankings
The Fantasy Football Almanac is available in both Standard and Gold Editions.
Standard Version Purchase Options
GOLD Edition Purchase Options
Top 10 Fantasy Football Players Before Training Camp
New wpDataTable
The rankings above provide a quick snapshot. As you can see, between PPR, Half PPR and Standard leagues, the rankings vary a bit. I wanted to also want to give you a quick note on each player below. For full analysis including their statistical trajectory over the past few seasons, check out the full Fantasy Football Almanac.
1. RB, Jeremiyah Love
From a talent perspective, Love is every bit as good as Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in my opinion. On one hand, I get a little nervous because the Carindals have a very strong and deep backfield. On the other hand, Love could start at WR for many teams in this league, so let’s not overthink it. He’s clearly the top running back in dynasty formats and is an early round pick in redraft leagues.
2. WR, Carnell Tate
My question is simple: will Tate be moved around the formation like Brian Daboll did with Malik Nabers in New York? Or will Tate be locked to an outside receiver position like Marvin Harrison Jr.? His career at OSU had him playing a DeVonta Smith-type roll, but I don’t think that’ll be the case with the Titans. Daboll has said he intends to move him around the field. I will say this: if I see Tate lining up from the slot position in preseason games, I will be boosting my ranking on him in 1-year formats.
3. RB, Jadarian Price
Kenny Walker is gone. Zach Charbonnet is likely to hit the PUP list. The Seahawks are going to continue running the ball. I can’t understand why Price is ranked so lowly in fantasy drafts. I know he didn’t catch passes at Notre Dame, but that has a lot to do with Love’s presence in that same backfield. I did review what I could of his high school profile and he could catch passes at the high school level. Price will have flex-consideration. inall formats this season.
4. WR, Makai Lemon
I know AJ Brown was traded, but Lemon’s ascension isn’t a slam dunk. He figures to play. a different role than the one Brown vacated. I think talent will prevail in this case, but Dontayvion Wicks figures to be the starting left outside receiver.
5. WR, Jordyn Tyson
I think this Saints passing attack will exceed 4,000 yards passing this season. Tyson will benefit from the attention Chris Olave is getting. Also keep an eye on Bryce Lance, who I speak more about in my unheralded rookies column.
6. WR, Antonio Williams
Don’t be surprised to see Williams rise in this ranking. He is currently the most explosive receiver on Washington’s roster. He can line up outside or inside (though should be the starting slot receiver). If Washington does not end up with Brandon Aiyuk then Williams’ stock will rise.
7. QB, Fernando Mendoza
He’s not going to get you a lot of those important rushing yards, but I think Mendoza will develop into a Jared Goff-like QB. I envision him throwing for 4,500 and 40+ TDs a few years from now. Pocket passers need to be students of the game to succeed and Medonza has impressed me so far this offseason. I look forward to seeing him in preseason action.
8. WR, KC Concepcion
I have a close eye on all of these guys, but particularly Concepcion. I think his role in this offense will be carved out from day 1. He’s an explosive downfield slot receiver who is also going to be dangerous in bubble screen and slant duty. But I’m not writing off Jerry Jeudy, who will still play well for the Browns this year.
9. WR, Chris Bell
He will be Miami’s possession receiver this year. I suppose you could argue Jalen Tolbert will be the opening day starter. But is that the bridge you want to die on? Not me. Bell will be the best receiver the Dolphins have to offer in 2026. Even if the team can throw for 2800-3000 yards and 18 touchdowns, the #1 receiver in Miami will be worth having.
10. RB, Mike Washington Jr.
I know we all love Ashton Jeanty, but it’s very clear to me that he is not explosive. He can break tackles and make tough runs, b ut he’s not going to be ripping 90 yard TD runs in the NFL. Also keep in mind that new head coach Klint Kubiak is apt to use multiple backs. Jeanty will still be great, but Washington will be a change of pace back. I think he could work him wse. f into flex consideration. And if Jeanty misses time and Washington starts a handfull of games, watch out. He has game changing speed.
My Final Thoughts
As I said, we’re still. in phase 2 of the offseason and I am excited to see these guys prove themselves with pads on and in game action. The first five or six of these guys will probably stay in the top 10, but training camp will probably unearth a couple of guys that aren’t getting much attention now. We have about another month until training camp opens up. I expect. to release an update to this column sometime in August.
Thanks for reading and feel free to grab the free Almanac Sample (2023 version which includes all of the free updates from that season).
Free Sample – 2023 Fantasy Football Almanac + Updates
2026 Fantasy Football Almanac Now Available
Standard Version Purchase Options
GOLD Edition Purchase Options
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I update my fantasy football rankings before draft season?
Fantasy football rankings should be updated throughout the offseason, but the most significant changes typically occur during training camp and the preseason. Position battles, injuries, coaching decisions, and player usage can dramatically impact fantasy value. Smart fantasy managers use early rankings as a baseline while remaining flexible as new information becomes available.
How important are preseason fantasy football rankings?
Preseason fantasy football rankings provide a starting point for evaluating players, but they should not be viewed as static. Rankings are most useful when paired with an understanding of player opportunity, projected workload, offensive scheme, and overall roster construction. Successful fantasy managers use rankings as a tool rather than a strict draft roadmap.
What factors matter most when creating fantasy football rankings?
The most important factors in fantasy football rankings include projected workshare, offensive environment, coaching tendencies, player talent, injury risk, and supporting cast. While previous statistics provide valuable context, future opportunity often has a greater impact on fantasy success than past production. This is why player roles and coaching changes can significantly alter rankings from year to year.
About The Fantasy Football Almanac
The Fantasy Football Almanac is an independent fantasy football publication built on structured analysis, tier-based rankings, and disciplined draft strategy. Every season, we evaluate coaching changes, offensive scheme shifts, usage trends, historical hit rates, and risk profiles to create a comprehensive draft framework designed to reduce mistakes and increase long-term consistency. The Almanac is not driven by hot takes or weekly hype cycles — it is built around probability, roster construction principles, and value-based decision-making.
While the analysis is detailed enough for experienced fantasy managers, the system is intentionally structured so beginners can apply it immediately. In fact, many first- and second-year players have used the Almanac’s tier models and draft frameworks to compete with — and often outperform — long-time league veterans. Whether you’re drafting from the early slot, managing turn picks, or navigating positional runs, the Fantasy Football Almanac provides a clear, repeatable process from Round 1 through your final pick.
For more information on Rankings, see our Fantasy Football Rankings hub which starts to see more year-focused rankings in June. Also be sure to check out the Fantasy Football Strategy hub for tips and tricks for both beginners and seasoned fantasy football veterans.
If you’re interested in picking up the Almanac, you can find it on Amazon. I recommend buying the DIGITAL (.pdf) version on my Shopify store: Get the Almanac.
